Prospect Info: Ryan Johnson, D, 2019 #31 overall: Signed, Rochester (AHL), Recalled 12/5/24

[hizzoner]

I do not see a place for him based on his resume at Minnesota. I have been looking forward to him signing but wonder what anyone would give for him if we did sign him--and maybe no one would match what we would get by not signing him. I suppose Sabres get the pick even if the decision not to sign is to his....

 

[Husko]

I do not see a place for him based on his resume at Minnesota. I have been looking forward to him signing but wonder what anyone would give for him if we did sign him--and maybe no one would match what we would get by not signing him. I suppose Sabres get the pick even if the decision not to sign is to his....

Howso?

 

[Sabre the Win]

I heard he plays small, not sure I like. We don't need another Bryson.

 

[Ace]

I heard he plays small, not sure I like. We don't need another Bryson.

Playing small and playing like shit are different things

Folks, this is…easily and without debate…the top defensive prospect in the system. It’s the worst d prospect pool of any team in the league thanks to Kevyn Adams…and it gets a hell of a lot worse if Johnson walks no matter the reason.

 

[Reddawg]

Playing small and playing like shit are different things

Folks, this is…easily and without debate…the top defensive prospect in the system. It’s the worst d prospect pool of any team in the league thanks to Kevyn Adams…and it gets a hell of a lot worse if Johnson walks no matter the reason.

Well woe is us...luckily we have two #1 defensemen under the age of 23 to mop up all these tears that are getting all over everything.

 

[Irie]

Playing small and playing like shit are different things

Folks, this is…easily and without debate…the top defensive prospect in the system. It’s the worst d prospect pool of any team in the league thanks to Kevyn Adams…and it gets a hell of a lot worse if Johnson walks no matter the reason.

Playing small is pretty much playing shitty in this league come playoff time.

 

[Fly Boy]

I can't believe that people are now trying to talk themselves out of wanting Johnson at all due to one unverified internet rumor. It's insane.

 

[Reddawg]

I can't believe that people are now trying to talk themselves out of wanting Johnson at all due to one unverified internet rumor. It's insane.

That pretty much sums up the Internet, and it's not exclusive to hockey forums.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Playing small and playing like shit are different things

Folks, this is…easily and without debate…the top defensive prospect in the system. It’s the worst d prospect pool of any team in the league thanks to Kevyn Adams…and it gets a hell of a lot worse if Johnson walks no matter the reason.

This is quite the 180 from your tirade about how awful it was to pick D when they selected him.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Playing small and playing like shit are different things

Folks, this is…easily and without debate…the top defensive prospect in the system. It’s the worst d prospect pool of any team in the league thanks to Kevyn Adams…and it gets a hell of a lot worse if Johnson walks no matter the reason.

Have you ever been able to articulate why having a poor defensive prospect pool from 2021-2023 matters at all when your three top defensemen are Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson. Now the time to start building a good defensive pool. It’s entirely separate then the nhl roster

 

[Bendium]

Well woe is us...luckily we have two #1 defensemen under the age of 23 to mop up all these tears that are getting all over everything.

What is the point of this statement. A good playoff caliber defense is made up of 7-8 solid NHL players, no matter where they are picked. We have those two because of our failure to put 7-8* good defenseman on the roster. That in part is a result of having poor dman pipeline. And @Ace is absolutely correct in stating that our current one is the worst in the NHL. So what are you mocking? Your own understanding of what it takes to win?

 

[Jim Bob]

Have you ever been able to articulate why having a poor defensive prospect pool from 2021-2023 matters at all when your three top defensemen are Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson. Now the time to start building a good defensive pool. It’s entirely separate then the nhl roster

If Johnson walks, it makes one of the thinnest D prospect groups even thinner.

It would leave the Sabres with only 5 D in the pipeline heading into this off season. And of those 5, Lindgren is the guy that was taken with the highest pick at 106OV.

So, while the Sabres have one of, if not the, best group of D age 23 and younger, the lack of prospects in the pipeline is an issue that needs to be addressed.

This D group is crazy young. Bryson is the second oldest D on the roster. That is bonkers to me.

 

[hizzoner]

I do not follow college hockey and have not seen Johnson play this year. I assume the Sabres have and will base their decision to offer a contract on what they seen. I have always expected and hoped we would sign him. Has anyone live viewed him this year who wants to assess his potential?

 

[Dirty Dog]

If Johnson walks, it makes one of the thinnest D prospect groups even thinner.

It would leave the Sabres with only 5 D in the pipeline heading into this off season. And of those 5, Lindgren is the guy that was taken with the highest pick at 106OV.

So, while the Sabres have one of, if not the, best group of D age 23 and younger, the lack of prospects in the pipeline is an issue that needs to be addressed.

This D group is crazy young. Bryson is the second oldest D on the roster. That is bonkers to me.

Luckily there is a draft this summer and next. I want Johnson to sign not to bolster our prospect pool, but I think he can fill an NHL spot in the next 12 months.

Our defensive group at the nhl level needs NHL players, not an infusion of youth or prospects. We’ll need prospects to supplement that down the road, which is why it’s a good time to start drafting defensemen and why the current status of the prospect pool is not an issue

The Sabres have their top three defensemen locked up for a long long time. It’s a unique situation that comes from getting two first overalls and a samuelsson

 

[Reddawg]

What is the point of this statement. A good playoff caliber defense is made up of 7-8 solid NHL players, no matter where they are picked. We have those two because of our failure to put 7-8* good defenseman on the roster. That in part is a result of having poor dman pipeline. And @Ace is absolutely correct in stating that our current one is the worst in the NHL. So what are you mocking? Your own understanding of what it takes to win?

The point is that the nonstop negativity gets really irritating sometimes, especially when our team has so much going in a very positive direction for long term success. I don't often call things out but then sometimes I do.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

What is the point of this statement. A good playoff caliber defense is made up of 7-8 solid NHL players, no matter where they are picked. We have those two because of our failure to put 7-8* good defenseman on the roster. That in part is a result of having poor dman pipeline. And @Ace is absolutely correct in stating that our current one is the worst in the NHL. So what are you mocking? Your own understanding of what it takes to win?

Boston’s is worse.

Would it make everyone happier if Power was in college this year? Then they’d have one or the best defensive prospects?

To your original question: the purpose of the statement was to gently point out that Buffalo’s “prospects” are weak because they’ve graduated so many blue chips recently. They have one of the stronger pools of young Defense.

A team will generally have a player until they’re 27; why is it better for that player to be in a development league? The only utility is parsing statements to generate outrage.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Given our defensive prospect pool, half he defense we ice at the NHL level, and the amazing vibes I keep hearing about for a team missing the playoffs again…

there’s some shame if a defensive prospect passing on the opportunity. And for the GM who has an empty cupboard behind his lack of depth in year four.

He won't sign, he won't sign. You offer a year ELC to burn and a max contract. There are no other moves. Pretty simple transaction. They can try and trade for more than a 63rd overall.

 

[Archie Lee]

Boston’s is worse.

Would it make everyone happier if Power was in college this year? Then they’d have one or the best defensive prospects?

To your original question: the purpose of the statement was to gently point out that Buffalo’s “prospects” are weak because they’ve graduated so many blue chips recently. They have one of the stronger pools of young Defense.

A team will generally have a player until they’re 27; why is it better for that player to be in a development league? The only utility is parsing statements to generate outrage.

This all day.

I get that people are down on Joker. The organization likely is not as down on him as the fanbase. It's possible Dahlin, Power and Joker all get long-term extensions in the next 14 months and we have our top 4 locked in for the next 6-7 years, with a current avg age of 22 years 7 months. Our D prospect pool may be thin, but it doesn't need to be deep.

 

[Jim Bob]

Luckily there is a draft this summer and next. I want Johnson to sign not to bolster our prospect pool, but I think he can fill an NHL spot in the next 12 months.

Our defensive group at the nhl level needs NHL players, not an infusion of youth or prospects. We’ll need prospects to supplement that down the road, which is why it’s a good time to start drafting defensemen and why the current status of the prospect pool is not an issue

The Sabres have their top three defensemen locked up for a long long time. It’s a unique situation that comes from getting two first overalls and a samuelsson

The challenge the Sabres will be dealing with over the next couple of seasons is a lack of D on ELCs that can give them waiverless depth in Rochester.

Clague is the only D that has played games in Rochester this season that is under team control beyond this season.

Komarov and Lindgren are not AHL eligible in 23-24, even if they sign their ELCs this summer.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

He won't sign, he won't sign. You offer a year ELC to burn and a max contract. There are no other moves. Pretty simple transaction. They can try and trade for more than a 63rd overall.

That really depends on the value placed on him by the team. If Buffalo views the compensatory pick as having more value to them, to me that means they don't view him as an NHL talent. They spent what was essentially a 3rd in Josh Bloom on a 6/7 D in Stillman, and I'm sure there is no delusions about what he is. He doesn't have top 4 potential, he's a bottom pairing guy at best.

If they choose not to sign him, to me that means they don't view Johnson as being anything more than Stillman, and that wouldn't just be Adams but also the scouting staff who has a pretty decent track record so far under Adams so I see no reason to doubt them. Can they find a team that views him differently? Possibly. But usually players like Johnson trade for 3rd round picks given their potential to just go UFA in a couple months. Henry Thrun for example.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

That pretty much sums up the Internet, and it's not exclusive to hockey forums.

Internet is tough place to be.

 

[truthbluth]

I think not signing Ryan Johnson to get the 31st pick in the second round of the 2024 draft would be a mistake because I think he’s a player, that at worst is a minute eater in Rochester. They’ve done significantly worse with similar picks (late 2, early 3) in the past decade. I don’t necessarily think it would be emblematic of any specific failing of Adams’. It would just be poor asset management.

 

[brian_griffin]

I'd be surprised if Adams looks at the state of the Sabres blueline and prefers a late 2nd round pick to a solid young defenseman on an ELC.

This in a nutshell. It would be poor asset management not to sign Johnson, even if the Sabres are not enamored with him.

(To be clear, I believe the Sabres see a future for Johnson with BUF organization, and will sign him.)

Edit: it appears @truthbluth and I were Vulcan mind-melded.

 

[Bendium]

The point is that the nonstop negativity gets really irritating sometimes, especially when our team has so much going in a very positive direction for long term success. I don't often call things out but then sometimes I do.

Stop seeing it all as negativity. There are a ton of things going well with the Sabres. There are also alot of things NOT going well. Thats why they are not yet a playoff team, and haven't been for 12 years. A good portion of what you call negativity is coming from the people that love the Sabres the most! The most diehard fans, that want a CUP someday. To get there, you can't just focus on the good and ignore the bad. You have to identify what is holding you back and make changes to improve. People are just identifying issues and problems holding our team back, and care enough to try to suggest changes to improve.

It is crazy how much our society has demonized critical thinking. People think your a mean hateful bastard if you say anything negative about someone. So we tell people they are doing a good job when they are not. Tell them its OK when its not. We cater to the lowest common denominator so no ones feelings get hurt. Well..... in the words of Leigh Guest - "F*ck your feelings! Look it up on youtube. Awesome song. NOT DIRECTED AT ANY PARTICULAR POSTER. JUST FOR FUN!

 

[Jim Bob]